News & Articles

The triathlon is about 30 kids away from reaching their goal of 300 racers
DAVENPORT, Iowa Hundreds of kids will be breaking a sweat Saturday. They'll be at the Bettendorf YMCA for the Quad Cities "Pinky Swear" Kid's Triathlon. The race helps kids get active while raising money to support families with a child battling cancer. The race focuses on participation rather than competition, and most importantly that each child will be racing for local kids with cancer One of those kids is 10-year-old Tristan Parr, who was...

The World’s Third-Largest Kids Triathlon to Benefit Pediatric Cancer Patients via Pinky Swear Foundation
Kids will race to raise money for Greater Atlanta families impacted by cancer
ATLANTA, GEORGIA (August 11, 2015) – On Sunday, August 23, 2015 Kids Triathlon, Inc. will host the 4th Annual Atlanta Kids Triathlon benefitting the Pinky Swear Foundation at the West Gwinnett Park Aquatic Center in Norcross. Thanks to the new...

Kids triathlons give lifelines to others in health battles
By Emma Johanningsmeier / World-Herald staff writer After JoAnn Kaylor’s son, Kevon, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer in October 2013 at age 15, caring for him became Kaylor’s full-time occupation. For the first four months, she was with him every day while he stayed at three different hospitals. Several months after the diagnosis, Kaylor had used up all her leave time under the Family Medical Leave Act and had to quit her job,...

A Promise to Keep
Source: Hy-Vee Seasons Back-to-School 2015
IN THE YEARS SINCE A MINNESOTA BOY WAS TAKEN BY CANCER, HIS FATHER HAS HONORED A PLEDGE HE MADE TO HIS SON. THEY SEALED THE PROMISE BY INTERLOCKING PINKY FINGERS. THE LEGACY OF MITCH CHEPOKAS NOW INCLUDES THE HY-VEE PINKY SWEAR KIDS TRIATHLONS. FUNDS RAISED AT THE EVENTS WILL GO TO FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN ARE...

Pinky Swear Triathlon runners raced over to Lake Nokomis Saturday to support a good cause
Saturday’s Pinky Swear Triathlon at Lake Nokomis had a turnout of 800 young athletes, running to raise awareness for children battling cancer.
The Pinky Swear Foundation was created to keep the memory of Mitch Chepokas, who passed away 12 years ago to cancer, alive. Becky and Steve Chepokas, Mitch’s parents, founded the Pinky Swear Foundation, to help provide assistance to families in need.
There are currently 11 triathlons like...


Keeping the Promise
The Miracles of Mitch Foundation has become the Pinky Swear Foundation, but its mission to help kids with cancer remains the same. Twelve years ago, the Chanhassen community gathered to help Steve Chepokas keep a promise of the most solemn kind: a pinky swear to his 9-year old son, Mitch, to help other kids with cancer and their families after he was gone. Thus the Miracles of Mitch Foundation—renamed the Pinky Swear Foundation last December—...

Hy-Vee triathlon predecessor focuses on getting kids active
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa —Hy-Vee held its first big race Saturday since canceling its world-class Hy-Vee Triathlon in February. Organizers of the Pinky Swear Triathlon said the focus of Saturday’s event is completely different than the former Hy-Vee triathlon. Close to 300 athletes under the age of 19 crossed the finish line not knowing how fast they finished. “I think it's just fun to do one that's not timed and just enjoy yourself and not have...

Life to the Max TV features Pinky Swear Foundation
Pinky Swear Foundation was featured on a new episode of “Life to the Max" on WCCO–TV Channel 4 on Saturday, June 20, at 11:05 p.m. Hosted by Mike Max, "Life to the Max” highlights stories of perseverance, tenacity and winning attitudes. It is more than just a sports show; it’s a program about those who look at the glass as half-full. Steve Chepokas’ son Mitch was diagnosed with stage four bone cancer in 2002. After overhearing a family...